
riass J' J^3 '^■■f 

i'i(];si-;.\Ti-;i) m 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2010 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/redpapersofmexicOOmexi 



"RED PAPERS" OF MEXICO '"^ 






AN EXPOSE OF THE GREAT CIENTIFICO CONSPIRACY 
TO ELIMINATE DON VENUSTIANO CARRANZA 

DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE IMBROGLIO 
BETWEEN CARRANZA AND VILLA 



NEW YORK 

Mexican Bureau of Information 

WHITEHALL building. ROOM 334 

19 14 



rizzf 



"RED PAPERS OF MEXICO" 



An Expose of the Great Cientifico Conspiracy to Eliminate 
Don Venustiano Carranza. 



A year and a half ago the Constitutionalists 
under the leadership of Don Venustiano Car- 
ranza challenged the dictatorship of Huerta. 

The victories on the battlefield against the 
Mexican federals created among the constitu- 
tionalists strong personalities and new ambitions. 

While the soldiers were fighting with sword 
and rifles the diplomats were pulling the wires 
behind the scenes. In Pari^ London, Washing- 
ton and New York there were rich, experienced 
and practical gentlemen who were conspiring 
to use for their own end the forces which had 
been unchained by the revolution. A tremend- 
ous battle of money, influence, strategy and 
wits was pitted against a struggle of principle, 
integrity and faith. 

With Huerta's rise to power a number of 
members of this cabinet were exiled, men like 
F. de la Barra, ex-provisional President, General 
Mondragon, Rodolfo Reyes, ex-cabinet member, 
and Felix Diaz, the wandering general who never 
fought a battle, the patriot who lost his uncle. 

In Paris these gentlemen found other exiles 
to keep them company and plot their return to 
power. Jose Y. Limantour, ex-Finance Minister, 
J. Casasus, ex-Ambassador, were among the 
ablest of the cientifico exiles. The former ex- 
Minister is the brain which directs and pulls 
the strings for the purpose of getting some of 
the cientificos in any cabinet under any old 
president in Mexico. Under de la Barra's pro- 
visional presidency three-fourths of the cabinet 
members were "neo-cientificos," that is to say, 
ministers whose interests were the same as the 
Limantour cientifico party, but with more up-to- 
date methods. The name of "cientificio" in 
Mexico is a synonym for scientific, unscrupulous 
grafter. 

In New York there arrived rich men like 
Inigo Noriega, ex-silent partner of Gen. Por- 
firio Diaz ; Gen. F. Gonzalez, ex-Governor under 
Diaz, Manuel Calero, ex-member of the Madero 
Cabinet; Jose Castellot, ex-Senator under Diaz 
and also representative of Huerta and Carbajal 
in \\'ashington ; Oscar Braniff, rich Mexican 
landowner; Francisco Madero, Ernesto Madero, 



Adolfo Madero, Rafael Hernandez, and the 
whole family of the Maderos, which according 
to reports counted up to one hundred and forty 
members. 

Other ex-cabinet members were T. Ezquibel 
Obregon, Dr. Urrutia, the surgeon-executioner 
of Huerta; Querido Moheno, ex-Minister; 
General Maas, Fco Carbajal, ex-provisional 
president ; Gen. Juvencio Robles, Razgado, the 
Terrazas, the Creels, F. Gamboa, to say nothing 
of the lesser fry. 

These exiles were scattered from New York 
to Washington, from New Orleans to El Paso, 
but their headquarters were in New York. They 
did not all come at once to the United States, 
but in dribbles and bunches according to the turn 
of the political wheel. Some are called por- 
firistas, huertistas, "cientificos," felicistas ; 
others, the maderistas, are divided between 
"neo-cientificos" and villistas ; but they are all 
of one stripe; they are without exception re- 
actionaries who are only interested in their lands, 
money and political power; they are the enemies 
of the Mexican liberals, hostile to the Mexican 
Constitution. They do not all work together, 
but they travel on the same road. With the 
exception of Gen. Mondragon, Gen. Felix Diaz, 
Rodolfo Reyes and Dr. Urrutia, they are all 
"cientificos" with a dash of clericalism. Their 
methods of procedure are the same ; the identical, 
fine Italian hand is seen through their plots. 

When F. I. Madero had taken Juarez from 
Gen. Navarro, the "cientificos" sent able men 
witii fat purses and clever tongues to use the 
simple minded Orozco and Villa to eliminate, 
F. I. Madero, who would have been killed by 
the rebel soldiers under their orders if it had not 
been for his bravery. Orozco was later cor- 
nipted by money furnished by the Terrazas, and 
started a revolution against his former chief. 
\'illa begged F. I. Madero's pardon and pro- 
mised to be loyal to the end. Villa kept his 
word. 

Later the huertistas and cientificos and some 
militarists attempted to use Zapata in a plot to 
kill Madero. Zapata saw through it and the 



treachery was frustrated. When the European 
and American exiles from Mexico observed the 
events which pointed to a future Constitutiona- 
list victory, they sent agents to Carranza, to 
Gen. Obregon, to Gen. Gonzalez and to Gen. 
Villa to discover which of those men were more 
likely to be influenced by money, personal ambi- 
tion, or other motives. The reports were un- 
favorable, with the exception of Villa. The 
other chiefs were men of culture, breeding and 
political experience. Most Constitutionalist 
chiefs were of the opinion that all reactionary 
elements, like the cientificos, should be eli- 
minated. They understood that as F. I. Madero 
had been sacrified as a martyr to Mexican 
liberty, his name would be inscribed in the scroll 
of fame. 

But the Madero family, from Francisco 
Madero down had no claim to Mexican gratitude 
in the shape of political power. Therefore they 
frowned upon the attempts of the Madero clan 
to get in "on the ground floor" of the successful 
revolution. Thereupon all the "cientificos" 
turned their efforts upon the brave, loyal and 
talented but fiery tempered, illiterate and politi- 
cally inexperienced Villa. 

Day by day, week by week, month after month 
agents were with Villa's army as camp followers, 
officers, friends and admirers, as newspaper cor- 
respondents, to work on the impressionable 
general. His vanity was tickled, his patriotism 
was excited, his personality, his military achieve- 
ments were exaggerated, his importance in the 
revolution was magnified until lie began to think 
that he was inspired to lead the Mexican people. 
While this was going on the "cientificos" spent 
thousands of dollars for fiction and magazine 
writers to pen biographies wherein the past life 
of Villa was described in a romantic fashion to 
palliate his youthful peccadilloes and magnify 
his victories. Even Huerta had secret agents 
with Villa to try and break him away from the 
leadership of Carranza. In his last message 
Huerta spoke of the division among the re- 
volutionalists — he meant Villa but at that time 
Villa was not ripe for a break and his declara- 
tion was premature. The cientificos, neo-cienti- 
ficos and so-called maderistas continued the ef- 
forts to undermine the loyalty of Villa. 

It was evident that Pancho Villa would not 
ally himself, even if he should quarrel with Car- 
ranza, with the reactionary powers, which had 
been fighting for Diaz, de la Barra, Huerta, Car- 
bajal. The intention of the press agents was to 
make the personality of Villa so dominant in 
the minds of Americans and Mexicans that al- 



though Villa could not hope to be President, he 
might be nevertheless a president maker, the 
balance of power, the man behind the throne in 
Mexico. 

The agents poured out day after day stories 
about Carranza, about his faults, but never his 
virtues. They told Villa that Carranza was an 
aristocrat, a great landowner who would never 
settle the land question, an ambitious man who 
wanted to become dictator, a pretentious scholar 
who laughed at Villa's ignorance. 

Reed in an article speaks of Villa's loyalty to 
Carranza in the beginning of the revolution. 
"His loyalty to Carranza was perfectly obstinate. 
He seems to think that in Carranza were em- 
bodied the entire ideals of the revolution, this 
in spite of the fact that many of his advisers 
tried to make him see that Carranza was es- 
sentially an aristocrat and a reformer and that 
the people were fighting for more than reform." 

The work of the Villa advisers was slowly 
bearing fruit; the untrained mind of the strong 
willed condottiere was undermined systematical- 
ly with every known and unknown machiavellian 
device; his intelligence was being trained to be- 
come a useful tool for higher unscrupulous, 
aristocratic masters. 

Excuses for difference between Carranza and 
Villa were easily found and magnified until Villa 
began to believe that Carranza was jealous of 
him and his power, his talent and his honesty. 
Carranza appeared in the plastic mind of the 
military leader very much blacker than he was 
painted. The Chief of the Revolution's name 
to Villa had the same effect on him as a red rag 
to a bull. 

Villa began to believe that he was persecuted 
by the Supreme Chief. 

It is easy to understand that in such a sus- 
picious, tense, state of mind, filled with imagin- 
ary grievances, one more drop of subtle, calom- 
nious poison was sufficient to overflow the cup 
of bitterness. 

It was intended that Villa should quarrel with 
the Chief of the Revolution, disown him and if 
necessary fight him, but at all events no matter 
by what methods, he was to be eliminated. Then 
Villa would control the Convention of Generals 
and Governors. He would dictate the name of 
the provisional President and later of the Presi- 
dent. 

He would be the Czar of Mexican politics 
with the string being pulled from Paris and New 
York. He was to be a Czar of Mexico 
without office, but with real power in his hands ; 



a second Simon Bolivar, who would refuse the 
crown of an empire. 

When Villa had done his work and the cienti- 
fico tool was in the presidential chair, then Villa 
himself would be eliminated gently if possible, 
by force if necessary. 

What has not been taken into account is that 
things may not turn out as they were originally 
planned, and that even if Villa can be deceived 
for a while, there may come a time when he will 



discover how he has been used as a lever for 
men politically cleverer than he is. The settle- 
ment of the land question will turn the comedy 
into a tragedy for the cientificos. 

When Villa awakens from his trance, all his 
patriotism, his honesty, his sense of justice will 
change into a wave of disgust, indignation and 
rage. 

Then woe to the conspirators near and far! 
Meanwhile events will have to run their course. 



The Inside History of the Break between Don Venustiano 
Carranza and General Villa. 



Apart from the first differences occurring be- 
tween Mr. Carranza and General Villa through 
the deaths of Benton and Bauche events that 
only took place during the revolution in terri- 
tory under the dominion of the forces of General 
\'illa, there have been provoked the two follow- 
ing serious schisms : 

FIRST. 

General Villa, like all the Constitutionalist 
officials, expressly recognized the leadership of 
Mr. Carranza and took orders from him. Fre- 
quently Mr. Carranza ordered a certain head or 
official of some particular division to assist 
another who was engaged in battle. On various 
occasions he assigned aid to General Villa when 
the latter was going into action with his men. 

On the 9th of June, Generals Natera and Ar- 
rieta attacked the city of Zacatecas occupied 
by Huertista forces. The outposts of the city 
had already been taken, but on carrying an as- 
sault against the principal fortifications they 
encountered more resistance, for the enemy had 
received reinforcements. Then Mr. Carranza 
ordered General Villa, who was the chief nearest 
to Zacatecas, to send 5,000 men to Natera's as- 
sistance. General Villa refused to send these 
reinforcements, pretending first that the road- 
way was cut off, and afterward said that General 
Robles under whose command the reinforce- 
ments were to be sent was ill, and in conclusion 
declared that he would render assistance to 
Zacatecas only if he marched at the head of his 
division ; otherwise he would resign from the 
command. Mr. Carranza answered Villa to the 
effect chat his resignation was neither necessary 
nor convenient, and that he was to send aid to 
General Natera who had already commenced 
action. Villa replied that he had determined to 
resign and that he thereby left the command of 



the northern division. Mr. Carranza accepted 
the resignation. 

The officials under the direction of Villa 
favored his decision and backed him up, but he 
continued in command of his division notwth- 
standing his resignation. 

Villa did not only in this instance deprive a 
companion at arms of aid and disobey Carranza 
whom he recognized as his Chief, but he ordered 
the capture of the general treasurer and of other 
civil officials who depended on General Car- 
ranza, and also took possession of the funds in 
the Treasury. 

SECOND. 

Because of the hostile attitude toward General 
Carranza of Jose Ma. Maytorena in Sonora, with 
a force of 1,500 Yaquis, Mr. Carranza, always 
guided by the idea of establishing harmony 
among the Constitutionalists and of giving a 
proof of confidence to General Villa, fully 
authorized him and General Obregon to attempt 
a pacific arrangement with Maytorena, avoiding 
any clashes with the forces in that State com- 
manded by Col. Plutarco Elias Calles, and to keep 
them faithful to Carranza. 

It was agreed between the aforementioned 
Generals Obregon and Villa and Maytorena that 
the last should lay aside his hostile attitude and 
remain as the Governor of the State of Sonora 
and military commander ; that he might recognize 
as chief of militai'V jurisdiction, General Obre- 
gon in his character of Commandant of the 
Xorthwestern Division and that Col. Calles 
should retire from the State of Sonora. 

Mr. Carranza not only fulfilled his promise 
by relieving the commander of the forces and 
taking him out of Sonora, but he placed these 
forces under the command of General Hill, a 
personal friend of Maytorena. But @eiwwiUJiii 

Maytorena 



did not live up to the agreement, for not only 
did he disclaim the authority of Obregon, but 
even caused his subordinates to insult him. 
This decided the Generals Villa and Obregon to 
nullify the pact with Maytorena, and Villa to 
threaten to fight him if he continued his belli- 
gerent attitude. 

General Villa did not carry out this last reso- 
lution without deceiving General Hill. He 
ordered him according to an agreement between 
himself, Villa and General Obregon to leave 
Sonora and penetrate to the interior of Chihua- 
hua. As General Hill answered him that he 
would obey no other orders than those of his 
immediate chief, General Obregon, General Villa 
in place of fighting Maytorena, as he had offered 
to do, desired to send forces from Chihuahua to 
Sonora to fight Hill, in league with Maytorena. 

These last actions of General Villa determined 
General Obregon to make a trip to Chihuahua, 
to hold a friendly conference there. General 
Villa finding Obregon defenceless compelled him 
with the threat of shooting him without court- 
martial to order Hill to get out of Sonora. 

The unjustifiable imprisonment of Obregon 
executed by General Villa, the order given by 
him to shoot Obregon without court-martial, the 
conduct of General Villa himself in the con- 
fidential commission which Mr. Carranza con- 
ferred upon him to settle peacefully the difficul- 
ties in the State of Sonora, and lastly the in- 
tention of invading this state with armed forces 
to assist Maytorena against the troops of Car- 
ranza, all these acts were consummated without 
Mr. Carranza's knowledge arid revealed too 
clearly the future conduct of Villa, caused Mr. 
Carranza to take precautionary measures of 
defence, among which was the suspension of 
railway traffic north of Aguascalientes. 

This order to suspend traffic was the pretext 
taken by Villa to assume a really rebellious at- 
titude, for he addressed an insolent telegram to 
the first Chief, calling him to account for such a 
step, and almost ordering him to annul the 
measure; and as Mr. Carranza manifested be- 
fore answering his telegram that he desired to 
knovvf the conduct which he, Villa, had observed 
toward General Obregon, Villa without answer- 
ing nor justifying himself declared that the 
northern division would not be present at the 
convention summoned by Carranza for the 1st 
of October, and that he disclaimed him as Chief 
of the Constitutionalist Army. 

A few days before this last occurrence, Mr. 
Carranza conferred on Villa the rank of Division 
General. 



THE PACT OF TORREON. 

The first incident provoked by General Villa, 
of disobeying the order to help Natera, which 
action greatly relaxed the discipline of the Con- 
stitutionalist forces, gave rise to what is called 
the pact of Torreon. 

General Pablo Gonzalez and the other leaders 
of the northeastern division, wishing to establish 
concord with the forces of Villa, invited the 
chiefs of these forces to send delegates so that 
through peaceful conferences a way might be 
resolved for smoothing the friction occasioned 
by the disobedience of Villa. He and his 
generals accepted the invitation. 

In these conferences, consummated only be- 
tween representatives of the forces of General 
Gonzalez and those of General Villa, all the 
amendments proposed to the plan of Guadalupe 
were renounced, according to the acts of the 
conclaves, subscribed to by the delegates and 
secretaries who attended them. 

General Carranza conceded again to recognize 
Villa as chief of the northern division, and this 
division reiterated to Carranza its recognition 
of him as the First Chief of the Constitutionalist 
Army. 

The only measure adopted in the conferences 
of Torreon and that had to be submitted to Mr. 
Carranza for his approval was the following: 
"As soon as the revolution shall have triumphed 
there is to be called a conrentloa which will 
take place in Mexico City, with the object of 
deciding when the elections of the Republic are 
to be held. This convention will be composed 
of one delegate for each 1,000 soldiers under 
arms. The delegate is to be elected by a com- 
mittee of military chiefs, and his election ap- 
proved by the commandants of the respective 
divisions." 

Mr. Carranza did not approve but modified 
the foregoing proposition in the sense that the 
delegates to the convention might be named, one 
by each general or Governor of a State or mili- 
tary chief in command of forces when these 
might not be able to meet. 

It is absurd to believe, as the American press 
believes, that the rebellious attitude of General 
Villa is owing to a failure on the part of Car- 
ranza to comply with the agreement celebrated 
in Torreon, in respect to the form of holding 
tlhe convention. Mr. Carranza did not accept 
the proposition which the officials of General 
Gonzalez and General Villa agreed to submit 
for his approval. But aside from this, it is 
absurd to believe that Villa would have an 
advantage if the convention might be formed 



with a delegate for each 1,000 soldiers carrying 
arms, it being supposed that the forces under 
Carranza amounted to 101,000 men, and those 
under Villa only amounted to 24,000. 

The proposition presented by Villa to form 
the convention, a proposition which leaves 
definitely the nomination of the delegate to the 
military commander of each division; can hard- 
ly be called democratic, and as there only exist 
four divisions, all the delegates would be named 
by only four persons ; while the form adopted 
by Carranza has more amplitude, because each 
general, each Governor and each chief in com- 
mand of troops can meet at the convention or 
name a delegate. 

To sum up, it is untrue to assert that the 
hostile attitude of Villa toward Carranza is 
justified because Carranza did not carry out 
what he had agreed upon. Carranza did not 
agree to the nomination of a delegate for every 
1,000 men, nor is it true that Villa would have 
control of the convention if it should be formed 
in this manner. 

FORMER PROPOSITIONS OF VILLA. 

Carranza, satisfying his own wishes and the 
wishes of the Constitutionalist leaders, sum- 
moned the convention for October, notwith- 
standing the fact that he cannot say the revo- 
lution has completely triumphed. This con- 
vention will be vested with the most ample 
authority, the designation of a provisional 
government, and will map out the plans for the 
establishment of a constitutional government. 
General Villa had agreed that the northern di- 
vision under his command should be present at 
the convention through the medium of repre- 
sentatives chosen in the form adopted by Mr. 
Carranza, it being understood that in accordance 
with his telegram addressed to Mr. Carranza, 
he had already sent his delegates whom he 
ordered to return when they arrived in the city 
of Torreon. 

The following propositions also furnish proof 
of his acceptance, said propositions having been 
submitted to Mr. Carranza in company with 
General Obregon, at the beginning of the present 
month, and that Mr. Carranza accepted the same 
with the understanding that they might be in 
harmony with the wishes of the convention. 

First : — The First Chief of the Constitutiona- 
list Army will assume from now on the title of 
Provisional President of the Republic, and will 
add ministers to his Cabinet. 

Second: — As soon as the Cabinet of the Pro- 
visional President will be formed, in accordance 



with his Ministers, he will proceed to appoint 
temporarily the persons who may discharge the 
duties of Magistrates of the Supreme Court of 
Justice. 

He will name also the other judicial authori- 
ties of the Federation belonging to the District 
and to the Territories. 

Third : — The Constitutional or military Gover- 
nors of the States, in accordance with the 
municipalities which may be in the respective 
capitals, will designate the persons who may fill 
the positions in the Upper Courts, temporarily, 
and tlie Judges of the Primary Court of Claims 
and Inferior Judges. 

Fourth: — The Governors of States, the 
Governor of the District, and the Political heads 
of the Territories will call elections of the Muni- 
cipalities, as soon as the judicial authorities have 
been appointed. The elections will be held the 
same month that the council convenes, and with- 
in eight days after said elections may have been 
held the citizens appointed will come together 
to establish themselves in the Electoral College, 
to qualify the elections, and the day afterward 
the respective Council will be installed. 

Fifth : As soon as the Councils are establish- 
ed, the Provisional President of the Republic 
and the Constitutional or Military Governors 
of the States, will call elections, the first for 
representatives to the Congress of the Union, 
and the second for Constitutional Governor, 
Deputies to the Local Legislature and Magi- 
strates to the Superior Courts, in the cases in 
which the constitution of the State may provide 
that in this manner these last may be chosen. 

These elections will be held precisely one 
month after the call for them may have been 
issued, and will serve as a basis for the electoral 
division of the last election which may have 
taken place before the 18th of February, 1913. 
Sixth: — The Federal Cabinets and the State 
Legislatures having been installed, the first in 
extraordinary sessions will busy itself prefer- 
ably in the study of the following constitutional 
reforms, which the Temporary President will 
propose : 

A: — Suppression of the Vice-Presidency of 
the Republic, and manner of filling the tempor- 
ary or absolute absence of the President. 

B:— To modify the length of time during 
which the President of the Republic shall dis- 
charge his duties. 

C: — The organization of the Supreme Court 
of Justice and the manner of procedure regard- 
ing the designation of its officers. 

D : — The declaration of inability on the part 



of all the leaders who form a portion of the 
new national army to discharge the duties of 
President of the Republic, Governors of State 
and the rest of the positions of popular election, 
if they shall not have left said positions for at 
least six months before becoming candidates for 
the Presidential chair. 

The constitutional reforms having been ap- 
proved by the Federal Cabinets, the Legislatures 
of State, also of preference, and in extraordinary 
sessions if they have been held, the expressed 
reforms shall be discussed. 

Seventh : — Immediately upon the result of the 
relative discus,sion of the constitutional reforms 
being known, the Provisional President shall 
issue a call for the elections of a Constitutional 
President, and for the appointing of the Magi- 



strates of the Court under the conditions 
established by the Political Constitution of the 
Republic. 

Eighth : — The citizens who may have dis- 
charged duties temporarily at the time of the 
triumph of the revolution, nor those who have 
held office from the date of the call up to the 
moment of election, may be eligible for President 
of the Republic, nor for Governors of States. 

Ninth: — The temporary. Governors of the 
States as soon as they assume control shall name 
a council which shall reside in the capital of the 
State, and will be composed of a Representative 
for each district, with a view to studying the 
agrarian problem and to form a plan which will 
be sent to the State Congress for its legal 
sanction. 



Cairanza's Defense of his Course. 



(TELEGRAMS) 



Mc«i/-o City, September 28th, 1914. Via Laredo. 

The Government relics upon one hundred 
thousand men to preserve the peace of the 
Republic. 

The treaty agreed to at Torreon between the 
Northern Division and the Corps of the North- 
east Army is in no way valid, for it has never 
received my approval. I judged it of the utmost 
importance to call a meeting the first of October 
with the object of discussing and agreeing to a 
program for the Provisional Government, to fix 
the date of elections to study and resolve ques- 
tions of general interest and even provisional 
government, I being disposed to deliver over 
the said charge if the majority of the assembly 
so desire. 

The notices relative to the downfall and 
imprisonment of Gonzalez are entirely untrue, 
for the said division has fought the Zapatistas 
with success, destroying them on every side and 
causing them up to the present time the loss of 
more than two thousand men. I repeat that I 
have not failed to live up to any compact, but 
on the contrary Villa and Maytorena failed in 
their compact celebrated for the purpos^e of the 



pretended solution of the difficulties in Sonora, 
for which some days ago Generals Obregon and 
Villa were commissioned. 

Constitutionalist generals attempted to solve 
the conflict peaceably, and for that purpose a 
commission went out headed by General Obregon 
with destination at Zacatecas to hold a confer- 
ence with Generals Aguirre Benavides and 
Robles of the Villa Division. The railway and 
telegraphic communications between Mexico 
and Vera Cruz are preserved intact and General 
Aguilar remains faithful to the First Magistracy. 
He, like other Constitutionalist generals in the 
south, fight the reactionary forces of Argumedo 
and Aguilar that find it necessary to ensconce 
themselves in small groups in the mountains. 
General Obregon remains faithful to the govern- 
ment, with all the confidence of the First 
Magistracy. 

FOR NO MATTER WHAT MY SITUA- 
TION AS A LAND-OWNER MIGHT BE, 
THE AGRARIAN PROBLEM SUCH AS IT 
IS MUST BE SETTLED WITHOUT CON- 
SIDERATION OF ANY KIND. 

(Signed) V. CARRANZA. 



The Great Strength of Don Venustiano Carranza. 



Mexico City, September 28th, 1914. 
The northern ' division commands barely 
THIRTY THOUSAND MEN, the majority 



soldiers. The Constitutionalist forces, apart 
from those faithful to the cause, in the same 

northern division and under the First Magis- 



tracy, may be estimated at ONE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND. 

Zapatism does not possess the importance at- 
tributed to it by the enemy, for besides the fact 
of its relying on small forces and scanty sup- 
plies, I esteem it an easy matter to define its 
real attitude, which is principally due to the 
labor of intrigiie consummated by the bad 
element surrounding Zapata, WHOSE 
DEAIANDS IN SUBSTANCE ARE THE 
SAME AS THOSE OF CONSTITUTIONAL- 
ISM. 

A proof of the work of those elements are the 
last propositions presented by Chief Villa to 
this Government, in every way contrary to the 
revolutionary spirit. 



With a desire to avoid at any risk an un- 
necessary conflict, I permitted some Chiefs who 
were actually in this^ place to go to the Northern 
Division and invite them to state their attitude. 

There has also been formed a commission of 
generals with a view to attempting to hold a 
conference at Zacatecas, at which will concur 
some of the chiefs of the Northern Division^ 
to discuss in their assembly at the convention 
which I have called all the matters pertaining 
to the revolution, and where it is hoped that 
final settlements may be arrived at which may 
definitely realize the triumph of the cause which 
we have been defending. 

(Signed) V. CARRANZA 



The Correspondence between Carranza and Generals 
of the Northern Division. 



Mexico City, Sept. 29, 1914. \ia Galveston. 

The following messages were exchanged be- 
tween this First Magistracy and the Generals 
of the Northern Division, which they sign "Chi- 
huahua, Chih., Sept. 27th, 1914. 

Hon Venustiano Carranza, First Chief of the 
Constitutionalist Army, in Charge of the Exe- 
cutive Authority, Mexico, D. F. Honored Sir: — 
The generals, chiefs, and officials of the North- 
ern Division and the civilians who subscribe to 
this paper, sincerely moved by a patriotic atti- 
tude and worthy of the greatest admiration that 
our brothers of other divisions have assumed, 
the Generals Ignacio L. Pesqueira, Lucio Blanco. 
Eduardo Hay, Rafael Buelna, and Juan C. 
Medina, with a view to putting to one side all 
selfish interests and petty differences so that we 
may save the Republic in the deep and dolorous 
peril in which she is at present plunged, address 
you for the purpose of manifesting that it is not 
in vain that our dear companions of other di- 
visions invoke our sentiments of dignity, and 
our conscience of the honor and most just af- 
fection which we harbor for the countrj' which 
is our sad and hoh' mother. We cherish the 
greatest ambition that the regenerative work of 
the constitutionalist revolution may not crumble ; 
and we encourage the great illusion that the 
sacrifices of our brothers who died heroically on 
the field of battle in defense of the holy ideals 
of liberty and justice may not be unfruitful. 

Like our said brothers we wish to make every 
effort that owing to these circumstances in which 
we are unfortunately placed, the enemy may not 



take advantage of the cause of liberty, for they 
do not stop at any measure which might steep 
the republic in blood. 

Equally, we will make every eft'ort and every 
sacrifice before sentencing our country to the 
dark danger of foreign intervention, and that 
only the failure of all these noble hopes, and of 
all these generous efforts will carry us to the 
fratricidal struggle to which we would go only 
because duty would compel us to do so, though 
wiih a heart full of pain and sadness for the 
national misfortunes. 

By reason of the foregoing and cherishing the 
intimate conviction that you will know how to 
place yourself at the height of circumstances, 
that you will understand how to be inspired by 
the noble example of all true patriots, of those 
who have fallen gloriously defending the liberty 
and honor of our soil, that in your good Mexi- 
c^n soul there will be room for noble sentiments 
and generous efforts, we come to' ask you in one 
sublime act to save the Republic from the chaos 
which it may come to through the faults and 
rashness of all. 

General Villa has telegraphed to our loved 
companions that he will cease the hostile attitude 
of the northern division if you in a burst of 
I'atriotism and unselfishness may deliver the 
supreme command to the incorruptible libera! 
Fernando Iglesias Calderon, who by reason of 
his talent, energy and clean record will be a 
surety for the revolution, because he will under- 
slLind how to carry the Republic through the 
path of honor and will never prove a traitor to 



the ideals of the democratic cause. 

General Villa has categorically declared that 
all this division will firmly support Mr. Iglesias, 
and is a high example of civism and disinterest 
has confessed openly that none of his chiefs 
aspire to the presidency or vice-presidency, 
neither pro tempore nor constitutionally. 

These declarations, honorable First Chief, 
powerfully reveal that this division is resolved 
to sacrifice everything on the altars of our coun- 
try and that we are not guided by petty or low 
ambitions. We warmly exhort you to turn a 
deaf ear to the counsels of the ambitious and 
put aside every sentiment of pride and of bad 
counsel, and self-love, and leave the supreme 
command of the Republic with a view to saving 
her from the dangers which pride and obstinacy 
may carry her. 

That magnanimous and laudable attitude will 
be the base for the salvation and aggrandize- 
ment of the Republic and will raise you to the 
level of the most noble, leaving to the genera- 
tions of the future a luminous and beautiful 
example of disinterest and patriotism. 

General Eugenio Aguirre Benavides, Gral. J. 
Isabel Robles, Gral. Mariano Garcia, General 
Manuel Chao, Gral. Orestes Pereyra, Gral. 
Martiniano Servin, Gral. CaHxto Contreras, 
Severiano Cisneros, Gral. Rosalio C. Hernandez, 
Gral. Jose V. Rodriguez, Coronel Santiago 
Ramirez, Gral. Isaac Arroyo, Gral. Felipe 
Angeles, Gral. Raul Madero, Coronel Manuel 
Medinaveitia, Tte. Coronel E. Santos Coy, Dr. 
Miguel Silva, Lie. Federico Gonzalez Garza, 
Lie. Miguel Diaz Lombardo, Juan H. Uriba, 
Dr. A. Castellanos, Silvestre Terrazas, Coronel 
Rodolfo L. Fierros, General Fidel L. Avila and 
Enrique Perez Rul. 

THE ANSWER OF CARRANZA. 

"Generals Eugenio Aguirre Benavides, Jose 
Isabel Robles, Mariano Garcia, Manuel Chao, 
Orestes Pereyra, Martiniano Servin, Cahxto 
Contreras, Severiano Cisneros, Rosalio Hernan- 
dez, Jose V. Rodriguez and other signers. Chi- 
huahua, Chih. 

I refer to your message under date of the 
27th instant in which you set forth your desire 
that I may leave the First Magistracy of the 
Constitutionalist Army and the charge of the 
Authority of the Nation to avoid the armed con- 
flict which may be provoked by reason of the 
disobedience of General Francisco Villa, deliver- 
ing that First Magistracy and that charge to C. 
Fernando Iglesias Calderon. 

I have no otherwish than to leave as soon as 



possible the two high positions that the armed 
people of the Republic have entrusted me with 
upon aiding the Plan de Guadalupe of the 26th 
of March, 1913, proclaimed and sustained by the 
first Chiefs who accompanied me in the struggle, 
which happily has caused the downfall of the 
dictatorship created in this city in consequence 
of a military union and of the unfaithfulness 
of the federal army in charge of suppressing it; 
but owing to the fact that the trust which Con- 
stitutionalism has placed in my hands is so 
sacred, on my retirement I believe it my un- 
rescindable duty to place the same in the hands 
of those who have conferred it on me, who are 
necessarily the superior Chiefs of the Constitu- 
tionalist army, between whom, honorably, are 
to be found the Chiefs whom I address. 

With this object and with the object that there 
may be discussed and settled all subjects of 
public interest, I called the convention which 
must be held the first of October next, to all the 
generals in command of the Constitutionalist 
army and Governors of the States, who will 
have to appoint the new depositary of the high 
commission in which I am vested. 

If upon holding that convention any of the 
chiefs should be absent who ought to take part 
in the same, the convention itself will have power 
to summon them to the conference, each separ- 
ately or through the medium of representatives. 

As the petition to which I refer originates in 
the undisciplined action and disobedience of 
General Villa in failing to recognize me as First 
Chief of the Constitutionalist Army and in 
charge of the Executive authority, I judge that 
to work with the greatest impartiality, although 
I do not know whether you may have lent your 
influenced with General Villa himself to turn 
him to execute his duty, they ought to have peti- 
tioned before that the aforesaid General Villa 
would abandon the command of the Northern 
Division and retire, the same as I, to private 
life, although I am still Governor of Coahuila, 
with the noblest object, on the part of you and 
myself, of avoiding the war which undoubtedly 
will come as a consequence of the insubordina- 
tion of the Chief of the Northern Division. 

If the Chiefs before whom I make my resigna- 
tion in the convention of the first of October 
accept it, with the greatest pleasure and satis- 
faction I will retire to private life with a clear 
conscience of having discharged my duties as 
a citizen, of Governor of the State of Coahuila, 
of the First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army 
and of the charge of the executive power of the 
nation ; but if the resignation might not be ac- 



cepted, with the same rectitude and the same 
energy with which I fought an usurpation headed 
by General Huerta, I will combat the reaction 
which now appears to be headed by General 
Villa, an instrument, perhaps unconscious, of 
Porfirism and Cientificism conquered in the 
struggle, as was Pascual Orozco with respect 
to the reactionaries scattered upon the initiating 
of the insurrection headed by the illustrious 
martyr, Don Francisco I Madero. 

It pleases me to meet and recognize the high 
sentiments with which you are inspired upon 
addressing the First Magistracy, and it is my 
ardent desire that thev mav meet with success ; 



but if notwithstanding those noble sentiments 
and those meritorious efforts the armed conflict 
is made inevitable, I hope that the sane criteri- 
ons of those to whom I address myself may 
recognize that their duty is to be on the side 
of dignity and honor and not of disloyalty. 

It would be lamentable if those among you 
who have exposed their lives for their country 
should now lose them without honor in a new 
civil struggle, the consequences of which do not 
escape your penetration. I unite my votes to 
yours for the salvation of the Republic. 

V. CARRANZA. 



Forces under Command of Don Venustiano Carranza. 



Northwestern Division commanded 

General Obregon 22,000 men 

Northeastern Division commanded 
by General Pablo Gonzalez with 35,000 

First Central Division, General 

Natera 7.000 

Second Central Division, Gcii. J. 

Carranza . 18.000 

Forces of Jalisco, commanded by 
Gen. M. Dieguez 10,000 

Forces of Durango State, com- 
manded by Gens. Arrieta and 
Carrillo 7,000 



Total 99,000 

Besides the said chiefs, there are with Mr. 
Carranza as subordinate leaders in the foregoing 
army, Generals Martin Triana, Candido Aguilar, 
Murguia, Francisco Cos, Gertrudis Sanchez, 
Lucio Blanco, Rafael Buelna, Juan Cabral, 
Antonio Flores, Vicente Salazar, Esteban Mar- 
quez, Antonio Medina, Federico Saucedo, 
Cesareo Castro, Jesus Castro, Agustin Castro, 



Luis G. Caballero, Eulalio Gutierrez, Luis 
Gutierrez, Antonio I. Villareal, Ramon G. 
Iturbe, Juan Dosal, Ernesto Santoscoy, Jesus 
Davila Sanchez, Jesus Sanchez Salgado, Juan 
Zua Zua, Encarnacion Diaz, Julian Blanco, 
Cerecero Estrada, Teodoro Elizondo, Pablo A. 
Garza, Jacinto Trevino, Alberto Carrera Torres, 
Francisco Carrera Torres, Romulo Figneroa. 

FORCES UNDER COMAND OF 
GENERAL VILLA. 

The subordinate generals of Villa are as 
follows : — In Sonora, none ; in Chihuahua, 
Tomas Urbina, Eugenio Aguirre Benavides, 
Orestes Pereyra, Felipe Angeles, CaHxto Con- 
treras, Raul Madero, Luis Herrera, Monclovio 
Herrera, Manuel Chao, Tomas Ornelas. Fidel 
Avila, Jose Isabel Robles and other leaders. 

Forces under General Villa (North- 
ern Division) 30,000 men 

Forces under Generals Luis and 
Monclovio Herrera ( Recently 
joined the Carranza forces) 5,000 " 



General Antonio I. Villarreal Addresses Zapata 



Messrs. Gen. Don Antonio I. \'illarreal and 
Lie. Don Luis Cabrera had been commissioned 
to treat with Gen. Zapata relative to his sur- 
render of the forces imder his command. The 
said gentlemen leaving the metropolis turned 
their footsteps toward Cuernavaca, Morelos 
and had the pleasure of an interview with the 
southern leader. 

Unfortunately, however, Gen. Zapata was 
surrounded with two or three ])eople, who in the 



character of secretaries make it an almost im- 
possible task for anyone to get a hearing with 
him in regard to the betterment of the popular 
cause. 

One of these persons, Don Manuel Palafox, 
by his efforts prevented Gen. Don Emiliano 
Zapata from arriving at a satisfactory arrange- 
ment with the Presidential commission. 

Gen. Villarreal in his anxiety to solve the 
problem before alluded to, has sent Mr. Zapata 



the following letter; 

Mexico, Sept. Sth, I9l4. 

General Emiliano Zapata : 
Cuernavaca, Mor. 

Esteemed General: 

I had the pleasure of receiving the last let- 
ter, which you were kind enough to send 
through Mr. Reyes and in which you express 
the fact that you were to blame for the in- 
cident at Huitzilac. I must advise you that 
this matter was not one of much importance, 
and it seems "that they gave you exaggerated 
reports of the same. What we consider a 
grave affair, and was really a sad one regard- 
ing which we went to consult you with the 
object of arriving at an agreement between 
the revolutionary elements of the North and 
the South, was the unjustified conduct and 
belligerent attitude of your secretary, Mr. 
Manuel Palafox, in respect to whom I intend 
to speak in this letter with the most absolute 
and honest frankness ; believing in this way 
that I may do you a good turn, not alone 
yourself personally but also the cause of the 
well-being of the public which we must all 
defend and also the peace of the nation. 

If you critically analyze the happenings 
which occurred during our visit in this city, 
and to which I beg to call your attention, you 
will discover in a moment that all the diffi- 
culties, all the petty misunderstandings, all 
the threats of war, emanated principally from 
Mr. Palafox supported by Mr. Seratos, who 
also in our opinion is carrying on work right 
in your office that is very far from being 
patriotic and loyal. 

It is always the case that when various 
people come together to settle great or small 
differences which may exist between them, it 
is understood if they work in good faith and 
the matters treated of are thoroughly talked 
over, that some points are ceded by one party 
and some by the other party; there must be 
reciprocity in the arrangements, and a defi- 
nite conclusion reached regarding the subject 
under discussion. To continue, conferences 
held with regard to any matter must not be 
reduced to the party on one side imposing a 
settlement and the parties on the other side 
accepting the same without discussing the pro- 
positions for and against and coming to a 
mutual agreement. 

Unfortunately, in our case this which was 
the rational and just method of procedure did 
not take place, because as you will remember 



Mr. Palafox, who was the spokesman during 
the discussions almost prevented us from set' 
ting forth our side of the subject, and at- 
tempted to impose upon us certain conditions 
which would have to be accepted uncondition- 
ally as preliminaries before -arriving at a 
resolution. 

You will recollect that Mr. Palafox de- 
manded as a first condition that as revolution- 
aries of the North we should accept without 
discussion the Plan of Ayala as the Supreme 
Law of the Republic, declaring that otherwise 
it would be impossible to treat of other 
matters. 

This is in direct contradiction to your de- 
clarations, that you had no ambition for 
power; for in one of the clauses of the Plan 
of Ayala it states that General Pascual Orozco 
is recognized as leader of the revolution, and 
in case he is not able to discharge that task, 
you will be eligible ; and as our complete sub- 
mission to the Plan of Ayala is demanded it 
would intimate that we ought to place you in 
the position of the Supreme Chief of the 
Nation and in a more or less covert manner, 
you would be Provisional President of the 
Republic. 

I believe in the sincerity of your words 
when you say that you have no ambition to 
command, that all you want is the settlement 
of the agrarian question and the economic 
betterment of the lower classes for which you 
have struggled so bravely. But back of this 
is Mr. Palafox, who has the ambition to rule, 
and who is desirous to see you raised to 
supreme power so that he may enjoy a privi- 
leged position in your office in his character 
of Secretary and Councillor. The same object 
animated Mr. Serratos more or less who also 
-enjoys a certain amount of influence regard- 
ing your affairs, and doubtless awaits the 
auspicious moment of utilizing the same for 
his own benefit. 

You will remember that Don Luis Cabrera 
and I set forth very clearly that we were 
authorized to accept essentially the Plan of 
Ayala; that is, the land question, the satis- 
faction of the popular needs, the betterment 
of the poor. We hereby declare that we agree 
fully with .the principles set forth in the Plan 
of Ayala, and only desire that its form may 
be modified, and that there may be added to 
the gubernatorial program which we might 
draw up some clauses relative to the needs of 
the Northern States and the States in the ' 
center of the Republic, which are not in the 



same condition as those of the south. Messrs. 
Palafox and Serratos refused to accept our 
cordial and just propositions, and insisted in 
a blind, un(|uestionabIe, despotic manner that 
the Plan of Ayala be accepted, without the 
change of a word or a comma. 

Convinced that the influence of Messrs. 
Palafox and Serratos over you would make 
sterile all our efiforts for coming to an agree- 
ment in the form which we proposed, we 
declined to start' a discussion which only 
might have served to embitter our souls and 
to give rise to more ill-feeling that what we 
suffered in the course of our conversation with 
you. For our part we found ourselves in a 
visibl\- hostile atmosphere, and we lacked the 
liberty necessary for the free expression of 
our opinions. 

When Mr. Sarabia spoke with you for the 
first time, he wrote me stating that your at- 
titude was cordial and that he saw that your 
propositions of peace were sincere. On the 
occasion of our meeting with you our surprise 
was great to find you different from what 
Mr. Sarabia had represented. This may be 
easily explained for the first time that you 
spoke with Mr. Sarabia you were guided by 
your own impulses and by your good in- 
tentions, and the second time you were under 
the influence of the unhealthy machinations 
of Mr. Palafox. 

The question then is reduced to the follow- 
ing facts : On our part the gieatest and most 
sincere' cordiality, the recognition of the 
justice of your cause, the acceptance of the 
principles of the plan of Ayala relating to the 
division of lands and the social betterment ; 
on your part, good impulses, no ambition for 
power, and the exclusive desire for the wel- 
fare of the public ; and on the part of Mr. 
Palafox and Mr. Serratos a spirit of intrigue; 
that distorts the best intentions, ambitions for 
power in your hands with a view to thriving 
in your shadow, and a decided object of pro- 
voking war if their ambitions should not be 
satisfied. 

Is not this sad. General Zapata? Is it nqj 
deeply to be lamented that all the patriotic 
efforts of honorable men shall go to pieces 
before the caprices of two intriguers? Is it 
not bitter and even shameful that a movement 
as great and unselfish as yours after four 
years of struggle should degenerate by reason 



of an instrument of vile ambition and in an 
ignoble weapon for bringing war a second time 
on a country already exhausted in its struggle 
for independence ? 

I make a supreme appeal to your honor, to 
your patriotism, to your love of the people, 
who would be in the last analysis those who 
would suffer most from a war, that you take 
into consideration what we said when we were 
with you, and which I again repeat in this 
letter, that we may arrive at a good under- 
standing with the revolutionaries of the north 
and the south, who in reality are brothers. 

We know that we have done all in our 
power to arrive at a peaceful solution, and if 
at length it might be found impossible to 
reach it, it will not be through our fault. 

God grant that to-morrow I may not have 
to tell you that through attending to the intri- 
gues of an ambitious party more than to the 
dictates of patriotism, you may be to blame 
for the beginning of a war which would be 
thoroughly unjustifiable, which no one wants 
and which would do no one any good ! 

I believe that after what I have said it is 
only necessary to add the following: That 
while Palafox continues at your side enjoying 
the influence that he does, it will be impossible 
for us to return to see you at Cuernavaca, 
nor for us to send other representatives, for 
we consider that we would not have, as we 
did not, the necessary liberty to treat with 
frankness and amplitude the transcendental 
subject which is under our discussion. 

We would be very thankful to know that 
you had resolved to act independently of your 
harmful counsellor; and in such a case we 
consider that it would be easy enough to 
arrive at a settlement. 

In place of Mr. Palafox you should be able 
to consult your principal chiefs, who have 
struggled faithfully for the cause, and you 
will surely find among them better standards 
and better counsel than from your ancient 
secretary. 

I know that the majority of your chieftains 
hold Mr. Palafox in scant esteem and do not 
care for him ; and if they have not so express- 



ed themselves to you it has been perhaps with a view to realizing the peace which our 

through lack of opportunity or excess of dis- Republic needs so much, without lessening 

cipline. Now it would be convenient that you the agrarian ideals for which you have strug- 

consult them regarding this matter. gled for so long a time. 

I trust, Mr. General, in your good judgment I am happy to sign myself, 

and sense of right, to kindly bear in mind with y.^^^^ affectionate and loyal friend, 
a spirit of serenity and justice what we have 

set before you, and unite your efforts to ours ANTONIO I. VILLARREAL. 



Convention oi Generals in Mexico City. 



(telegram) 



Mexico City. October 3th, 1914. 

Yesterday at 7 P. M. the First Chief of the 
'Constitutionalist Army, vested with the Exe- 
cutive Authority, produced before the Assembly 
of Governors and Generals united in convention 
in the Chambers of Deputies, the following in- 
formation : "Generals of the Constitutionalist 
Army, Governors of the States of the Union. 
Upon initiating the struggle for legality against 
tlie rebel dictatorship, I offered to call you to a 
solemn convention to be held in the Capital of 
the Republic, when it should be occupied by the 
Constitutionalist A •ny ; and according to the 
Plan of Guadalupe, accepted by all of you. 
through which I might take upon myself the 
Executive Authority of the Nation, I am happy 
to-day to fulfill the promise I made you ; in con- 
sequence, you will all discuss the political pro- 
gram for a provisional government of the 
Republic, and such matters of general interest 
as will lead the country to its realization of the 
rieals of justice and liberty, for which we have 
so valiantly struggled. During the campaign 
tie Chiefs of the Constitutionalist Army with 
N^hom I spoke, including those of the Northern 
Division, agreed with me in that this convention 
should fix the date on which the election to re- 
establish the Constitutionalist order would be 
hdd, as the supreme goal of the legalist move- 
ment. Equally all the Chiefs of this army coin- 
cide with me in that the Provisional Govern- 
ment should institute the social and political 
reforms which will be considered in this Con- 
vQition as of urgent public necessity, before the 
re-establishment of the Constitutionalist order; 
tlie social and political reforms about which I 
spoke to the principal Chiefs of the Army, in- 
dispensable to satisfy the aspirations of the 
puolic in its need for economic liberty, of 
po'itical equality, and organic peace, are briefly 
enunerated in what I set forth herewith. The 
assurance of municipal liberty as a check and 
ba.ance to the political power of the States, and 
as the principal doctrine of all democratic prac- 
tices ; the resolution of the agrarian problem 
thiough the division of the national lands, of 
the land which the government may buy from 
the great proprietors and that which may 
be expropriated for public profit. That the 
municipalities, for the public welfare, should 
expropriate, in all the settlements of more than 
50O inhabitants, land for the building of schools. 



markets and courts. 

To compel all business concerns to pay sala- 
ries in cash, weekly if possible; to dictate dis- 
positions concerning the limitations of working 
hours, Sunday rest, a workingman's compensa- 
tion law and the betterment of the economic 
condition of the working class. 

To estimate the value of property in our terri- 
tory so as to be able to obtain an equitable taxa- 
tion. To nullify all unconstitutional concessions, 
contracts and agreements. To reform taxation 
in a broad spirit of liberty, taking care not to 
hurt the industries of the country and to facili- 
tate the importation of prime necessities not 
manufactured in the Republic, for the benefit 
of the middle and lower classes. 

To reform the banking law w'th a view to the 
establishment of a national bank. To give 
marriage the character of a real civil law by 
permitting it to be consummated before a notary 
public, and not as at present when it is dependent 
of an unwarranted intervention of state func- 
tionaries and therefore, subject to political 
eventualities. Conjointly with this reform to 
permit absolute divorce by mutual consent of 
both parties. 

At the approach of the date of the Convention 
I thought it my duty to dictate some dispositions 
necessary within the spirit of the revolution, 
such as the appraisement of real estate, the 
matter pertaining to the issue of thirty-five 
million pesos paper money, the necessity of draw- 
ing up an exact list of the expenses of public 
administration, of the Department of Public 
Instruction, and Justice in the Federal District 
and Territories of the Republic. 

The intention of the Constitutionalist Army to 
offer in tliis Convention, unique in the history of 
Mexico, social and political reforms demanded 
by the nation, and the most expeditious means 
of restoring the Constitutional order broken by 
the treason and rebellion of an usurper ; is on 
the poiit of being frustrated by the conduct of 
Gen. Francisco Villa, Chief of the Northern 
Divisiai, who with serious threats prejudicial 
to our country only, refused to recognize me as 
First Chief of the Constitutional Army in charge 
of the Executive Power. 

This attitude resulted in a petition signed by 
some generals under Villa and some civilians sur- 
rounding him in the manner of arbiters of the 
destinies of the nation, asking me as an act of 



Jjatriotism that I renounce as Chief of the Con- 
stitutionalist Army and the Executive Power of 
the Union in favor of an honorable, distinguish- 
ed gentleman who naturally was the first one to 
refuse the offer of an armed group, representing 
as it does a pretorian stroke which if counten- 
anced would revert us to the dark and turbulent 
epochs of our history, when as a consequence a 
. great part of our territory was lost. 

Therefore, I must explain to the nation, for 
the sake of historical accuracy, the reasons which 
have determined the preconceived and prepara- 
tory rebellious attitude of General Villa, which 
is nothing more than the work of the reaction 
instigated by the so-called cientificos and by all 
those defeated by the triumphant revolution, and 
those who have been refused public posts on 
account of cowardice and ineptitude. 

The Governor of the State of Sonora, Jose 
Maria Maytorena, bribing a part of the Consti- 
tutionalist forces in that State, seized Gen. Sal- 
vador Alvarado and in point of fact disclaimed 
me as First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army, 
,and Head of the Executive Authority, under 
the pretext of pretended insults to the State 
sovereignty committed by Col. Elias Calles, 
Chief of the Constitutionalist Forces in the 
northern part of Sonora. 

With the object of attempting to settle the 
difficulties resulting between Governor May- 
torena and Col. Calles, I gave orders to Gen. 
Alvardo Obregon to go to Chihuahua and in 
company with General Villa to try to solve those 
problems. In the meantime, Maytorena advanced 
with his troops to Nogales and then. General 
Obregon, with the view of avoiding more shed- 
ding of blood, ordered Calles to abandon the 
aforementioned place, where Obregon and Villa 
arrived a short time afterward to treat' with the 
rebel Government; it being agreed that General 
Hill should take command as a substitute of the 
forces of Col. Calles, and these troops should 
retire to Chihuahua, after which General Cabral 
would assume the Military Command in the 
State, and the forces of Maytorena should be 
imder his orders. 

Before the arrival of General Cabral in Son- 
ora, Villa ordered Hill to retire with his troops 
to Casas Grandes, an order which this general 
did not obey owing to the fact that it did not 
emanate from his Chief, General Obregon. 
General Obregon retraced his steps to the Capital 
to give me an account of his mission, but a few 
days afterward left again for Chihuahta with 
the object of making an investigation of the 
problem in Sonora, and settling the conflict be- 



tween the forces of General Calixto Contreras 
and Tomas Urbina, belonging to Villa's division, 
who presented themselves in Durango, arrayed 
in a hostile attitude against the Governor of the 
State, General Domingo Arrieta. 

General Obregon had scarcely arrived at Chi- 
huahua, when Villa commanded him to order 
the immediate departure of Hill for Casas 
Grandes. Gen. Obregon denied this request, 
before General Cabral should assume military 
command in Sonora. Differences resulted be- 
tween both these leaders, and Villa tried to shoot 
Obregon, but the intervention of some other 
chiefs prevented his carrying out his plan. Villa 
held him as a prisoner for a short time, but 
with the object of concealing the matter, he gave 
a ball to General Obregon. 

When these occurrences took place General 
Hill communicated to the Secretary of War the 
answer which he sent to a message from General 
Obregon, in which this chief ordered him to 
continue his march to Casas Grandes, and to 
which he refused obedience, knowing that 
General Obregon was in prison. Naturally, I 
approved of the conduct of General Hill, and 
told hiiii that in the future he must not obe\ 
other orders than those of this First Magistracy. 

Upon learning of this message I ordered that 
traffic to the north of Aguascalientes and be- 
tween Torreon and Monterey should be sus- 
pended, and if the forces under Villa should 
advance, they were to destroy' both railways; 
then Villa addressed me, declaring that he did 
not know to what to attribute such a determina- 
tion; I told him, as was my duty, that before 
giving him an answer regarding the matter I 
desired him to make an explanation of his cSn- 
duct with relation to General Obregon. In 
place of obeying, Villa refused to give the ex- 
planation which I had requested as his superior, 
sending me the following message, which I 
thought it my duty not to answer: 

Chihuahua, Sept. 22d, 19U. 
Mr. V. Carranza. 

In answer to your message, I hereby dedare 
to you that General Obregon and o:her 
generals of this Division departed last night 
for the Capital with the object of discussing 
important matters relative to the general situ- 
ation of the Republic, but in view of 70ur 
proceedings which reveal a premeditated 
desire to place stumbling-blocks in the way of 
a satisfactory arrangement to all difficulties, 
and arrive at the peace which we so much 
desire, I have ordered his trip to be suspended 
and detained him in Torreon. In consequ- 



ence, I beg to advise you that this Division 
will not meet at the convention which you 
have called, and thereupon I declare that you 
are not recognized as the First Chief of the 
Republic, remaining at liberty to proceed as 
may suit my convenience. 

The General-in-Chief, Francisco \'illa." 

Some generals solicited an interview with the 
Chiefs of the Northern Division to see if it were 
'not possible to avoid an armed conflict, arising 
from the disavowal made by Villa of the author- 
ity which I represent, and their efforts have 
been directed so that this assembly, as soon as 
it may be completed by the Constitutionalist 
Generals who have not yet arrived, will be moved 
to the City of Aguascalientes there to celebrate 
the convention in place of holding it in this 
Capital, where I had already called it and where 
the said convention should really be verified. 

With the intention of making known the 
details which General Obregon may render to 
me as the Executive Authority information in 
regard to the commissions they conferred upon 
him, I cannot admit for the honor of the Consti- 
tutionalist Army itself, which designated me as 
its First Chief, and to whose patriotism and 
self-denial is due the triumph of the Plan of 
Guadalupe, that a rebel group, an undisciplined 
minority, may try to impose their will on the 
majority of the Chiefs, which is the only author- 
ity that has the power to give me orders, and the 
only one I will yield obedience to. 

If I have not tried to conquer this rebel Chief- 
tain by force of arms it has been because pru- 
dence so demanded it, but if unfortvjnately the 
time might come when it would be impossible 
to longer tolerate a persistent and unjustified 
rebellion, the nation should know that the Con- 
stitutionalist Government can command more 
than one hundred thousand men, artillery, 
machine guns and war supplies to bring that 



rebel Chieftain to order, and depends besides 
and principally, on the invincible force of the 
reason and justice which inspires the opinions 
of the level-headed citizen of the Republic to 
sustain the Government. 

You conferred upon me the command of the 
army, you placed in my hands the Executive 
Power of the Nation : these two sacred trusts I 
cannot deliver honorably at the request of a 
group of Chieftains misguided in the execution 
of their duty and a few civilians to whom the 
country owed nothing in this struggle. I can 
only deliver over my authority, and I do deliver 
it at this moment, to the Chiefs here united. I 
desire your immediate resolution, declaring to 
you that from this time on I retire from the 
Convention, leaving you wholly free, and trust- 
ing that your decision may be inspired in the 
supreme welfare of the country. 

V. CARRANZA. 

Mr. Carranza was unanimously acclaimed. 
Upon his retirement, it was nearly one o'clock, 
the assembly entered shortly after into consider- 
ations and discussions regarding matters of 
general interest without referring to the resigna- 
tion made from the positions of First Chief of 
the Constitutionalist Army, and the Head of the 
Executive Authority. 

The point under discusion having been settled, 
the referred-to resignation came up for debate, 
and then, through unanimous vote and almost 
immediately, the Assembly turned to place in 
the hands of Mr. Carranza the Leadership of 
the Constitutionalist Army, and Head of the 
Executive. A commission of generals waited 
on Mr. Carranza after 1 P. M., and upon the 
return of Mr. Carranza to his seat in the Assem- 
bly, the authority for both those high positions 
was placed again in his hands. 
ROQUE ESTRADA, 

Private Secretary to \'. Carranza. 



N. B. — The Mexican Bureau of Information 
has no official connection with Mexican General 
Consulate in this city nor the Mexican Embassy 
in Washington, D. C. 



MEXICAN BUREAU OF INFORMATION 

Whitehall Bldg., Room 334 
New York October, 19 14 



''*.. 



Press of 



Edgab Printing and Stationery Co. 
68 West 39th St., New York, U S. A. 



JC^:^ 



